How to get a shy person to open up to you in 5 minutes or less

Taking the time to approach a shy person and help them break out of their shell can be incredibly rewarding for both parties.Flickr/Arturo Donate

If you notice someone standing alone at a networking event, then they might need you to start the conversation.

John Stoker, president of DialogueWORKSand author of "Overcoming Fake Talk," says that 40% or more of the population would classify as "shy," meaning that they may be comfortable sitting in a conference session, but they're not comfortable talking to you first at a social event.

Why? Because they're afraid of rejection, he explains — and they will do anything to keep from being singled out.

So how do you approach a shy person — who you don't know — and put them at ease?

2. Affirm the meeting.

"If you make the first move by introducing yourself and taking an interest in the person, you will help to set them at ease, which will help you to establish a relationship with the person that could pay huge returns," he says.

But you'll want to go a step further and tell them how excited you are to be meeting them.

Try something like "I'm so glad we had a chance to meet today," "I'm so happy we're finally meeting!" or "It certainly is a pleasure to meet you today."